Electric heating assembly

ABSTRACT

A heating assembly of the type wherein a plurality of metal sheathed electric heating elements are arranged in a cluster, each having one end connected to a flange member, the elements being elongated and cantileverly extending from the flange member, and means for holding end portions of said heating elements in predetermined laterally spaced relation, comprising a sheet metal band for each heating element having sockets for receiving and holding the end portions, the sheet metal bands being connnected together. In a preferred form, the sheet metal band is of rectilinear formation with socket portions formed at the four corners to receive respective ends of the legs of a heating element. The sheet metal bands are connected to each other so that their socket portions hold the pairs of legs of all elements in spaced relation.

United States Patent Drugmand et al.

[ 1 June 27, 1972 [541' ELECTRIC HEATING ASSEMBLY [72] Inventors: LesterD. Drugmand; Sidney J. Temple,

both of Pittsburgh, Pa.

[73] Assignee: Emerson Electric Co., St. Louis, Mo. [22] Filed: Dec. 4,1970 [21] Appl. No.: 95,250

[52] US. Cl ..2l9/335,219/306,219/316, 219/320, 219/376, 219/523,219/539, 338/315 [51] t Cl ..II05b 3/02, F24h 1/10 [58] Field ofSearch..219/306,310,312,315-323, 219/331, 335-338, 350, 355, 357, 374-376,520, 526, 532, 534, 536, 537, 539,539, 541, 542, 544, 546, 548; 338/228,229, 240, 241, 326, 315, 320,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,102,185 8/1963 Boyd et a1...219/374 X 3,440,400 4/1969 Cotts ...219/539 X 3,191,718 6/1965 Haywood..219/306 2,133,838 10/1938 Abbott ..219/316 X 2,658,798 11/1953 Meltzeret a1. .219/375 UX 3,446,940 5/1969 Morgan ..219/318 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 566,373 11/1958 Canada ..219/523 515,082 11/1939 GreatBritain.. .....219/532 1,102,994 3/1961 Germany ..2l9/526 PrimaryExaminer-A. Bartis Attorney-Michael Williams [57] ABSTRACT A heatingassembly of the type wherein a plurality of metal sheathed electricheating elements are arranged in a cluster, each having one endconnected to a flange member, the elements being elongated andcantileverly extending from the flange member, and means for holding endportions of said heating elements in predetermined laterally spacedrelation, comprising a sheet metal band for each heating element havingsockets for receiving and holding the end portions, the sheet metalbands being connnected together.

In a preferred form, the sheet metal band is of rectilinear formationwith socket portions formed at the four comers to receive respectiveends of the legs of a heating element. The

sheet metal bands are connected to each other so that their socketportions hold the pairs of legs of all elements in spaced relation.

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sum 2 or 2 INVENTOR5 LEsTER D. DRUGMAND y 5IDNET J TEMPLE.

0 FL I y' I k 1 waxed 1 ELECTRIC HEATING ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND AND SUMMARYThe present invention is particularly suitable for use with elongated,metal-sheathed heating elements disposed within a container for heatingthe contents of the latter. In order to provide suflicient heatingcapacity, a plurality of elongated elements are usually arranged in acluster and supported from a flange which provides a cover for thecontainer, with the element legs extending from the flange in cantileverfashion.

l-Ieretofore, difficulties have been experienced in providing a low-costyet efficient means, for holding the element legs from contacting eachother and the walls of the container, and for providing physical supportof the element legs to minimize sagging thereof or strain on theconnection between individual elements and the flange cover.

Such physical support is desirable during transportation and handling ofthe container and also prevents intercontact so as to prevent rattlingof the elements. Further, it is desirable to hold the element legsagainst interengagement during operation since such interengagementcauses excessive heating thereat and may effect the usefulness of theengaged heating elements. Interengagement will also cause deposits toform thereat, such as carbon deposits if the substance being heated isoil or the like, or lime deposits if the substance heated is water fromthe usual mains.

Our invention overcomes the disadvantages above mentioned and theprincipal object of our invention is to provide new and improvedelectric heating assemblies of the character described.

Our invention relates to an electric heater of the type wherein aplurality of metal sheathed tubular elements of double loop formationeach has the ends of a pair of legs connected to a flange member withthe legs cantileverly extending therefrom in side-by-side relation. Asheet metal member is provided for each heating element, each sheetmetal member being in the form of a closed loop of rectangular formationwith socket portions formed in the four corners for receiving respectiveones of the legs of one heating element. The sheet metal members areconnected so that their socket portions hold all pairs of legs of allelements in spaced relation.

Provision is also made for holding the legs of a cluster of heatingelements in spaced relation, wherein one heating element is at thecenter and the other elements are grouped thereabout. A metal ring-likemember encompasses the sheet metal member for the center element and issecured thereto, and the sheet metal members for the grouped elementsare secured to the ring-like member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings accompanying thisdescription and forming a part of this specification, there is shown,for purpose of illustration, an embodiment which our invention mayassume, and in these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a broken, longitudinal sectional view through a fluid heatingcontainer, showing a preferred embodiment of our invention,

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a somewhat exaggerated perspective view of a heating elementused in the assembly of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view corresponding to the line 4-4 ofFIG. I, the container being omitted,

FIGS. 5 and 6 disclose variations of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1through 4, and

FIGS. 7 and 8 are detail views illustrating methods of maintaining theassembly.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With particular reference to FIG. 1,our invention may be utilized with a cluster or metal-sheathed electricheating elements disposed within a container 10 for heating the contentsof the same, which contents are usually liquid in form. Spaced tubes 11and 12 lead into the container and one may function as an inlet whilethe other may function as an outlet for the liquid to be heated. Aflange 14 supports the heating elements and forms a closure for thecontainer, the flange having openings 15 through which bolts (not shown)may pass and may either be threaded into a flange 16 on the container orpass through holes in the flange 16 for the reception of nuts (notshown).

FIG. 3 shows a type of heating element preferably used in the assembly.This element is of the double loop type and comprises a pair of legs 17and 18 extending from the flange 15 in cantilever fashion. The legs 17and 18 extend through openings in the flange and have terminal portions17a, 18a (see FIG. 1) extending outwardly of the flange and providedwith terminal pins 17b, 18b for connection to a source of electricalenergy.

As seen in FIG. 3, the leg 17 extends in rectilinear manner to a bightl9 and continues back toward the flange in a return portion 20 which isspaced from but aligned with the leg 17. The leg 18 also extends inrectilinear manner to a bight 21 and continues back toward the flange ina return portion 22 which is spaced from but aligned with the leg 18.The return portion 22 extends to a cross-over bight 23 which connectswith the return portion 20 of the leg 17.

The alignment of the legs 17, and 18 with their respective returnportions 20, 22, and the cross-over bight 23 is seen in FIG. 2. Acluster of three double loop heating elements is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and4 and such elements are disposed equidistantly about the longitudinalcenter of the housing 10. Although the double loop heating elements arepreferred, it will be appreciated that two hair-pin elements may beutilized, one element including the leg 17, the bight l9 and the returnportion 20 extending to the flange 14 to provide the other leg. In likemanner, the other hair-pin element would be formed by the leg 18, thebight 21 and the return portion 22, and in such case there would be nocrossover loop 23 between the elements.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, means are provided to hold the end portions ofthe heating elements in laterally spaced relation and such meanscomprises one or more assemblies 24 which may be inserted over the bightportions I9 and 21 and slid longitudinally along the elements in adirection toward the flange 14.

As best seen in FIG. 4, each assembly 24 comprises a plurality oftubular members 25, each preferably formed as a rectangular shaped bandof sheet metal, with pockets 26 formed at the comers to receive the legs17 and 18 and their return portions 22, 23. A pair of inwardly extendingloop por tions 27 is formed in each member 25 to constitute part of thepockets 26 and to maintain respective legs 17 and return portions 22,and legs 18 and return portions 20, in spaced relation. The loopportions also provide a degree of flexibility to permit each member 25to be slightly deformed, if necessary, to assist in sliding the membersover the bights 19, 21.

.The three members 25 are joined in any suitable manner, such as by tackwelds 23, to maintain their assembly. Thus, with the heating elements sointerconnected, they reenforce each other and eliminate concentration ofstresses on any one of their connections with the flange 15. In somecases, only one assembly 24 may be needed near the bights 19, 21, but incases where the heating elements are relatively long, more than oneassembly 24 is preferred.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show the further utility of our invention and discloseconstructions where a cluster of more than three heating elements isused to heat the contents of the container.

FIG. 5 shows a cluster of six heating elements, with a centrallydisposed heating element 30 and five heating elements 31 spacedthereabout. Tubular members 25a are provided which may be similar oridentical to the members 25 heretofore described. In this case, acircular band 32 is disposed about that band 250 which encompasses thecentral heating element 30, and all encircling bands 25a are tack weldedtogether as shown at 33. The central band 25a has its corners tackwelded to the circular band 32, as at 34, and flat portions of theencircling bands 25a are tack welded to the circular band 32, as at 35.As shown in the upper portion of FIG. 5, the heating elements need notbe circular in cross section, but may be of triangular or othernon-circular cross section.

FIG. 6 shows a cluster of five heating elements, with a centrallydisposed heating element 36 and four heating elements 37 disposedthereabout. Tubular members 25b are provided and in this case a circularband 32b encompasses the band 25b for the central heating element 36 andthe four corners of this band 25b are tack welded to the circular band32b, as at 40. A comer of each ofthe encircling bands 25b is tack weldedto the circular band 32b, as at 41.

in most cases, frictional contact between the bands 25 (or 25a, 25b) andthe legs of the respective heating elements is sufficient to hold anassembly 24 in desired position. However, it may be necessary to furtherinsure that an assembly does not move from desired position and in suchcases a flat portion of one or more bands 25 may be deformed inwardly,as shown at 42 in FIG. 7. This inward deformation may be formed by a tapof a hammer or by a suitable squeezing tool. Further, the inwarddeformation may be formed by the construction shown in FIG. 8, wherein abolt 43 passes through a hole in one flat leg of a band 25 and isthreaded into the opposite leg.

' We claim:

1. In an electric heater of the type wherein a plurality of metalsheathed tubular elements of double loop formation of the characterdescribed each has the ends of a pair of legs connected to a flangemember and with the legs cantileverly extending therefrom inside-by-side relation, the improvement comprising means for holding thepairs of legs of one element in lateral spaced relation with respect toeach other and with respect to the pairs of legs of the other elements,comprising a sheet metal member for each heating element, each sheetmetal member being in the form of a closed band of rectangular formationwith socket portions formed in the four corners for receiving respectiveones of the legs of one heating element and holding the same in spacedrelation, said sheet metal members being connected to each other so thattheir socket portions hold the pairs of legs of all elements in spacedrelation.

2. The construction of claim 1 wherein a corner of one sheet metalmember is connected to a corner of another member.

3. The construction of claim 1 wherein a flat side of at least one sheetmetal member is defonned inwardly to tighten the grip of said member onthe legs in its socket portions.

4. In an electric heater of the type wherein a cluster of metal sheathedtubular elements of double loop formation of the character describedeach has the ends of a pair of legs connected to a flange member andwith the legs cantileverly extending therefrom in side-by-side relation,and wherein one element is at the center and the other elements aregrouped thereabout, the improvement comprising means for holding thepairs of legs of one element in laterally spaced relation with respectto each other and with respect to the pairs of legs of the otherelements, comprising a sheet metal member for each heating element, eachsheet metal member having socket portions for receiving respective onesof the pair of legs of one heating element and holding the same inspaced relation, a metal ring-like member encompassing the sheet metalmember for the center tubular element and secured thereto, and the sheetmetal members for the tubular elements grouped about said center elementbeing connected to said ring-like member at spaced points along itsperiphery.

5. The construction of claim 4 wherein each sheet metal member is aclosed band of rectangular fonnation with socket portions formed in thefour comers.

6. The construction of claim 5 wherein the sheet metal members for thetubular elements grouped about said center element each has a comersecured to the periphery of said ring-like member.

7. The construction of claim 5 wherein the sheet metal members for thetubular elements grouped about said center element each has a flatportion secured to the periphery of said ring-like member.

s e a e

1. In an electric heater of the type wherein a plurality of metalsheathed tubular elements of double loop formation of the characterdescribed each has the ends of a pair of legs connected to a flangemember and with the legs cantileverly extending therefrom inside-by-side relation, the improvement comprising means for holding thepairs of legs of one element in lateral spaced relation with respect toeach other and with respect to the pairs of legs of the other elements,comprising a sheet metal member for each heating element, each sheetmetal member being in the form of a closed band of rectangular formationwith socket portions formed in the four corners for receiving respectiveones of the legs of one heating element and holding the same in spacedrelation, said sheet metal members being connected to each other so tHattheir socket portions hold the pairs of legs of all elements in spacedrelation.
 2. The construction of claim 1 wherein a corner of one sheetmetal member is connected to a corner of another member.
 3. Theconstruction of claim 1 wherein a flat side of at least one sheet metalmember is deformed inwardly to tighten the grip of said member on thelegs in its socket portions.
 4. In an electric heater of the typewherein a cluster of metal sheathed tubular elements of double loopformation of the character described each has the ends of a pair of legsconnected to a flange member and with the legs cantileverly extendingtherefrom in side-by-side relation, and wherein one element is at thecenter and the other elements are grouped thereabout, the improvementcomprising means for holding the pairs of legs of one element inlaterally spaced relation with respect to each other and with respect tothe pairs of legs of the other elements, comprising a sheet metal memberfor each heating element, each sheet metal member having socket portionsfor receiving respective ones of the pair of legs of one heating elementand holding the same in spaced relation, a metal ring-like memberencompassing the sheet metal member for the center tubular element andsecured thereto, and the sheet metal members for the tubular elementsgrouped about said center element being connected to said ring-likemember at spaced points along its periphery.
 5. The construction ofclaim 4 wherein each sheet metal member is a closed band of rectangularformation with socket portions formed in the four corners.
 6. Theconstruction of claim 5 wherein the sheet metal members for the tubularelements grouped about said center element each has a corner secured tothe periphery of said ring-like member.
 7. The construction of claim 5wherein the sheet metal members for the tubular elements grouped aboutsaid center element each has a flat portion secured to the periphery ofsaid ring-like member.